1939 337 a block combat warhorse

Well here it is finally posting this rare beauty up. Gone through the whole rifle its 100% all matching with alot of interesting subcontracted parts. Even the magazine spring is a subcontracted part. I also like the few manufacturer errors as well. Check out the trigger sear and how the fonts bounced when it was stamped. This rifle also saw alot of action has alot of finish loss by the front of the barrel and some other areas as well. But the barrel wear itself is in great shape has alot of rifling left. Stock has some dings and scars too. So its not a mint condition piece but a warhorse that served. And thats how I like them, just a honest piece thats right and not been messed with. I also like that layer of grease and grime where the action meets the stock. There was alot of it when I pulled the action out. Clearly could tell this rifle had not been taken apart since it was brought home.

I hope you all enjoy this piece as much I do this really was a dream piece too find. Also wanted too give a big shout too my buddy Mike he was major influence in this buy. And too think this piece almost got turned into the police department by the previous owner. Glad the seller who sold it too me talked him out of it!

More pictures:

Still more pictures

Last ones:

Amazing rifle, congrats!

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

Well done and congrats Warrior. Pic sticky for ref.

Good grab! Guess your find of the year came in the first 2 weeks

Simply stunning! What a great way to start the year!

Lots of markings on that one. She’s seen better days but you sure can’t complain about that on a rifle like this! Served the entire war!

Very, very cool rifle. We often want high condition rifles but a lot of times I like rifles like that. Lots of history. Congrats.

Those 337's can go for a heck of a price tag can't they ?
In all my time browsing the forums I can recall seeing no more than 5 ever posted - maybe even less than that.

Congratulations, nice rare combat veteran. You can now drop the mic

Thanks for all the kind words guys still can't believe I came across this piece. Have to say it goes well my 337 1940 rifle.

And you are correct built tough the 337 codes are not easy rifles to locate their pretty scarce. In five years of searching for the 1940 337 I found three. The first one was owned by Hugh Brock's that was for sale at the 2016 SOS show. The other one I bought on GunBroker, but it was enhanced by the seller shame though it was all original before he got it. And the last one I bought last October it was an untouched combat War Horse.

The 1939 337 is a whole different story from what Mike told me this is the first bring back that has surfaced since 2012 I believe.

Warrior1354 said:

The 1939 337 is a whole different story from what Mike told me this is the first bring back that has surfaced since 2012 I believe.

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Yeah, I'm pretty sure it's only one of a handful of original matching 337 1939 rifles found, certainly one of 2 that I know of personally. Even mine is a rework with a replaced barrel so not technically original as built. Very cool to see one on the forum!

mrfarb said:

Yeah, I'm pretty sure it's only one of a handful of original matching 337 1939 rifles found, certainly one of 2 that I know of personally. Even mine is a rework with a replaced barrel so not technically original as built. Very cool to see one on the forum!

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Thanks Mike and does this make me part of the 337 1939 club!

Warrior1354 said:

..does this make me part of the 337 1939 club!

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I think you are the '39 337 club!

heavy_mech said:

I think you are the '39 337 club!

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It is a rather small club who possess a fully matching-original 337/39, but two others are known, making three that I am aware of. Plus there are a few more that are mostly matching-original like Mikes example.

Someone owns #335 and it is probably nicer than this one, at least from the pictures i have. There is also the old Backbone example (2562) which appears matching, at least the datasheet on it from the 1990's shows it matching-original.

Like with Jordan's 337/1940, this rifle has a couple interesting points, the waffenamt (e/711) on the TG spring is a new report for me, but most of all the barrel having e/13 e/211 e/13 is most interesting. Waffenamt e/13 is a well known Ruhrstahl inspector, but e/211 moved around a bit and was probably a training or supervisory inspector. Best known for Mauser-Oberndorf and Mauser-Berlin, but also known to have worked at SDP very early. This is not the first time we see e/211 at Ruhrstahl, there is another 337/39 with the same inspector pattern.

Anyway, both Jordan's 337/1940 and this 337/1939 have revealed new patterns in research. The discovery of the e/749 buttplate on his 337/1940 (2195 d) is the more important discovery, though neither Peter Kuck (the rifles earlier owner) nor Jordan thought much of an early Gustloff Weimar inspected part.

Forget the diverse mix of sub-contractors on Gustloff Weimar, Ken Huddle did a lot of work researching this interrelationship, - it is the discovery of Gustloff made components that is the rare observation. After Jordan's buttplate showed up I looked for others and couldn't find any, it literally seems to be one of a kind, or nearly so... though Jordan's photograph is not the best, it looks like e/749 and original, - that was the real discovery imo. My guess is if that buttplate is e/749 then it is probably inspected by e/749 due to a correction or flaw, perhaps a leftover Suhl component Weimar utilized.

Paul you always amaze with your data and research. I really do enjoy your findings, it always seems too be an eye opener. But I do find Gustloff Weimar one of the most interesting out all the firms. It really does seem that everyone of these rifles are different and there's no telling what new discovers may turn up in the future.

I will get you a better photograph of the buttplate on the 1940 337 when I get a free moment.

Beautiful survivor warrior. Think about what's it's been through. Btw I'm a big Gustloff fan as well.